T20 Season Ends With Misfits Win

It was another sweltering evening at Hobbs Lane for the final T20 game of the season.

The well-supported Misfits team arrived with several Flax Bourton players and, of course, our very own Pete Rooney. Mark Forge won the toss and decided to bat in order to avoid a potential late evening gloom and also because Barrow were missing one player and another was only arriving as Mark Gracey and his skipper walked out to bat.

It was the familiar left arm swing of Rooney at one end which Mark (F) played with the appropriate respect for one over at least. After 2 overs the score had progressed to 12 runs without either batsman scoring. But Barrow could not rely on the generosity of the Misfits for ever so Mark (F) despatched one to the long leg boundary and followed it up with a deft deflection to third man, before being bowled by a much quicker one with the score on 26. With Gracey holding an end (mainly the non-strikers) it was good to have Connor Jones back in action and he looked in good form having not played much this year. He made 18 quick runs before being bowled as then was Gracey leaving Barrow 63-3 off 10. Paul Barnes hit one nice boundary before being caught in the ring, setting the stage for a rare sibling partnership between Bernie and Frank Forge. Managing to avoid running each other out, Bernie made a quick 19 with another lovely straight six before mistiming another lofted shot.

Simon Hudson (“Bomber” to the Misfits, “Cyborg” to the Barrow players) entered the fray to much good-natured abuse from many of his former Flax teammates. They put on an important 61 in the last 5 overs. Before Simon was out to the last ball of the innings for 15, leaving Frank 37 not out, scored mainly through the leg side and (almost) containing his first ever six as the ball hit the board on the half volley! 145-6 at the close.

Steve Owen had an early success against the opening batsman but then Joyce and Burge began to take the game away from Barrow. Connor Jones was the pick of the bowlers, troubling both batsmen and bowling Joyce for a well-made 48. Burge was to retire on making his fluent 50, but the only other success for Barrow was Adam Brace bowling a bemused looking Shah having appeared to have changed his shot twice with a ball that bounced and dropped onto the bails on its way down. Misfits winning in the penultimate over was well-deserved and only a slightly disappointing way for Barrow to end the T20 season.

The evenings we have had this year have been really enjoyable and well-supported and the club would like to thank everyone who has come up to play or watch. The decision to provide something to eat after the game has been popular and thanks to Dave Milton and Pete & Jane Holdaway for their help in organising that side of things. The additional revenue generated will further help the club’s plans for improving the ground and playing facilities.